Odin smiled. Owens had outdone himself this go around. The obstacle course was...impressive by trainee standard and challenging by Odin's. It demanded a little of everything and a lot of thinking in a short amount of time. At the end Odin could tell Owens had decided to go with the old pop-up enemies; Electronic devices hidden behind old fashion cardboard cutouts that were rigged to hit you with paint pellets leaving nice colorful splashes on you if hit. They were set to pop up at random intervals so that you couldn't anticipate where or when they'd appear and fire. He'd been pleasantly surprised that Chase was able to keep up with Calisthenics, but then he'd know the boy wouldn't have much trouble. It'd be a question of his condition not his strength. The boy seemed to have mostly focused on upper body strength and was drastically lacking in the endurance area which was proven during the fifteen laps around the compound which left most of the recruits gasping for breath because they wouldn't listen and even had Odin who as always did everything he had his men do a little winded. He was eager to see how the boy would fare on the obstacle course though his current prediction involved the colors black and blue to be in the boy's near future.
"Well ladies as you can see the commander went out of his way to test you today! It will be a tricky course. Three minutes or less! We'll skip lunch if we have to, but not one of you is leaving this course until you can all run it in 3 minutes or less. Got any complaints then voice em now!" Odin said turning to the course as he estimated how much time it'd take him to complete the whole course. Of course he made sure to take the time it'd take him if he didn't go all out and doubled that to set a time limit for his recruits as always. He wanted them to be at their fastest once they were past the recruitment phase and all the bad seeds were sifted out. The ones too weak willed or too focused on being a one man show and making name for themselves; they would be of no use to either the military or the coup.

================================================== =======

Max smiled and turned on his laptop's special program. Without much trouble he hacked into the base's security system and transfered the feed of the obstacle course to his laptop so he could see how the recruits were doing. He knew he'd not be able to go outside of his little basement lab, but he couldn't help but miss the old days when he and Odin were a team still and they ran that sucker together setting records that blew Owens' predecessor's socks off. All though that man had always been easily impressed. A fact that had saved Max's life at the time.

Owens had thought Odin wouldn't mind him going a little old in terms of style this time. What with the technology on the rise, people often forget that the old ways are still sometimes a sure thing that was tested and approved. Looking through the camera, he was vaguely amused at the newbie's reaction to the course. He seemed to know his strengths and his weaknesses. That, and he showed a lot of prowess. With just a bit of training and under Odin's guidance, he'd surely be top notch no more than sooner.

Watching them on-screen, though, didn't look so pleasing. He wanted to see everything and how the newbies would fare in the course he'd prepared for them all. Getting up to his feet, he took his hat, brushed his hand over his hair to press it down and back while he slipped on his hat. He fixed his tie a little and made sure his coat wasn't wrinkled before he'd headed out. He was well prepared by five am like all the others. Even though he'd only had an hour of sleep, it wasn't exactly new.

"Good morning, Captain," he started, coming up to Odin's side. He clasped his hands together behind his head, "How are our soldiers doing?"

- - -

Chase was just about to slow down and stop for a moment to catch his breath until he'd seen Owens at the corner of his eyes. He gave the superior a goofish grin before he'd inhaled and exhaled deeply. Time to beat this course in three minutes. Watching the course for a moment and with much help from his teammates, he smiled a little to himself. If anything, he was pretty much proud of his own skills of... running and remembering a lot of useless and important things.

He gave himself a little timer and he managed to finish thirty seconds before the three minutes. When he had, he'd lifted his arms up over his head in what seemed to be a victory sign, dropped onto the ground and tried to catch his breath. He didn't drop onto the ground where he could be trampled over, though. He stayed at the side. Waiting to be called off, he just rested there with his eyes sliding shut.

Three minutes is still a little too much, he thought to himself.

"Good morning sir. They're doing the same as usual; being whiny little brats about the obstacle course. They feel 3 minutes is too little time." Odin said he noticed Chase finishing the course and smirked evilly.
"Good job your highness see if you can get it in under 2 minutes and keep in mind balance is important in running." Odin said. He knew Chase would be smart enough to realize he meant for the other to focus on keeping his running speed even lest he exhaust himself in seconds.
"The rest of you pathetic maggots get a move on if he can do it in 2 and a half minute then you can too! Get moving now! Remember no lunch if you're not all under the 3 minute mark by that time!" Odin called smirking as the other recruits whined and bitched and groaned.
"Come on you pansies the commander himself came to watch today! Show some backbone or you'll all be running the course until you beat my time which for the record is under a minute." he said loudly and firmly receiving a firm yes sir in return as the recruits finally realized Owens was watching them.
"Come to watch or did you think they needed a bit more motivation?" Odin asked Owens.

Owens found himself smiling in amusement at Odin's nickname for their new recruit and the way the other treated his men. As he'd expected, Odin's way of training was exceptional. He had, after all, received harsher treatments back then when he was still starting. This was nothing compared to that time. That time, too, was perhaps too cruel considering they had a limited time to train and perfect themselves.

Chase rolled over to his stomach and got up steadily on his feet. He was still panting but it wasn't as bad as it had been not very long ago. That, and he could feel a few gazes sent his way when the captain had pointed out his time. He hadn't really meant to show off but he did want to eat and if he wanted to eat, he was going to have to help point out the other's weaknesses and what they need to watch out for the obstacle course to reach, at least, the 3-minute mark.

It had made a few of his military mates smile in victory when they'd reached the 3-minute mark. It was a slow progress and perhaps a little much like torture but their big and buff bodies with the help of Chase's critiquing helped them achieve the goal for today.

Owens was pleased with the results, especially when he'd seen Chase help the others. This was another military man who showed a promising future and Owens wouldn't mind at all seeing the other go through it all. "Perhaps both," he replied as he clasped his hands behind his back and smiled as the men - at least one by one - was starting to see through his obstacle course. It seemed like Chase wasn't the only one. He missed a few information that the others saw and pointed out. This was what he wanted. Teamwork. "And, I think they're doing a good job." He turned to look over at Odin and clapped his shoulder.

"You have good men under your watch, it seems, Captain. I trust you'll train them well." With that said, he'd gone back into the building to go back to his office and start with today's work. He seemed to have a few meetings here and there, too, outside of the barracks. Max's car will come in handy, he noted, and with the machine and the horsepower he'd seen it'd be running on, it'll be sure to bring him to his destination as quick as it could.

Before that, though, he better read the manual and make sure he got it all right.

"I do sir and I will train them to the best of my abilities. I promise that when I'm done with them they'll be the best if not better then they ever thought they could be and you know I never ask what I can't do myself. We might have a good one in the newest recruit. It'd be useful to find out his standings." Odin said using the agreed line that let Owens know to see if Chase might be suited for the coup and where he stood on the matter. Odin knew they'd have a good operative in this boy with a little more training, but what worried him was the boy's connections. He had the ones they could very much use in their coup, but at the same time given where he stood on the matter they could very well undo the whole thing and Odin wasn't fool enough to trust someone like that twice without at least making sure he could. The last time lost him more then just a lot of good people and nearly his life and the scar on his back wasn't the bitter reminder from that day. He stared at the recruits that were slowly beginning to form a strong strategy in it. His mind however wandered off.

"No! What are you doing?!" a much younger Odin hissed. He stared wide eyed at the screen as the old man who had been his mentor and leader appeared laughing cruelly.
"You my boy are my scapegoat now. You didn't think I'd bail you out when you screwed up did you?" the man said cackling madly then his face disappeared and the screen went blank. Odin stared blankly at the computer's screen. He heard yelling down the hall. This was it. The old man was going to let him get caught for the mission he'd given Odin and he'd watch it happen too. Owens' voice roused him from his thoughts in time to remember the explosive. he stared at it and ran away. He told Owens he was sorry and took off the communicator they'd used for this would be mission inside the base with a dummy bomb that Odin had as per his orders switched with the real one. The explosion came sooner then he thought and all went blank.

Odin woke in great pain only to be told by the doctor that he was extremely lucky. He'd with some luck only have the scar to tell the tale. He was shocked when he heard voices down the hall that evening. Owens was pleading someone to let him sleep for now.

Two weeks later Odin had recovered enough to be allowed to be transported by wheelchair to the council's room. They were discussing his case now to determine his punishment.
"...impressionable child. I looked him up first thing when they brought him to us. I have sufficient proof to 100% certainly say that the old man forced him." Owens' voice sounded through the door. Odin was shocked when he was wheeled in. Owens smiled at him and nodded when the council head asked him if he had anything to say for himself. Odin stared at the ground quietly. He slowly looked up and told them he was scared. Owens had asked to speak with the boy in private and relay his answers and that had been the start of his carrier in the military and his involvement with Owens' coup d' etat.

Odin shook his head and jogged over to where yet another group arrived.
"Job well done men. I'm glad to see you're beginning to realize that without teamwork you'll be a sitting duck. However you're running yourselves ragged out there so I'll give you a tip. Know your teams strengths and weaknesses. The best strategy is one where there is good balance. Meaning the one who gets over an obstacle first waits and helps the last one while the others move on to the next one where this strategy is repeated. The most important rule is that no man is left behind. Second most important one is never go alone. We're not here to play heroes and one man wonders! We're here to keep peace and save lives as a team! Now get a move on you have 5 more minutes of lunch time left and I'll be generous today and make it 10. I'll see you all on the gun range in 10 minutes! Those who are late get KP or Latrine duty and yes those still exist and will be implemented as needed." Odin said giving his men his usual cruel smirk as they complained, but got moving indeed.

================================================== =======
Max smiled. Today was a good day it seemed. Tomorrow he knew would be fun. Tomorrow was Saturday and anyone who thought that meant a day off was dead wrong. He couldn't wait to see what the rich fresh meat AKA Chase would make of his first ever camp out. He'd seen Odin's schedule. They'd start off with a 15 mile hike on an empty stomach then a short lunch break of nutri-bars and water followed by a river crossing instruction by Odin and another 10 mile hiking uphill. The day would end with setting up camp in the wilderness and staying the night. The next day they would go back down hill and Odin would see if they had paid enough attention the day before by quizzing them on the river crossing. He wasn't yet going to let them do a real one themselves and was bringing his own qualified team to show them. He also kept the rock climbing out of the training for now.

Owens looked over to a picture frame sitting on his desk and he put the papers he was holding down onto the brown envelope he'd pulled them out from. It was a picture of he and Odin who was still in the wheelchair. If he remembered right, he hadn't met Max that time yet. The side of his lip twitched up into a small smile as he leaned back in his seat. His elbows rested onto the sides of the chair and he slightly clasped his fingers together somewhere about the level of his chest.

"I think he'll be useful," a young Owens said as he talked to one of the members of the coup d' etat he'd just formed about a year ago. He was seventeen then and already, he was one of the best men under a well-respected platoon leader. No one knew of his coup d' etat yet and the members then only consisted of him and one other guy named Kant. "He saved our men from that bomb and took it upon himself."

Kant still looked hesitant but when he saw the look of determination on Owens' face, he gave up. "You'll be holding him responsible. You know that right?"

Owens only smiled as he stepped into the council's room.

Kant, now, worked as the communicator between the military and the government. He was and still is well-respected, much thanks to Owens' recommendation when he'd become the superior. Once in a while, the man came to visit and he always was cautious and kept a low profile whenever he wasn't alone. Even when he was alone, he made sure the place isn't bugged first before he did what he needed to do.

Not like either of them could really risk having to be found out as traitors against the current government system and the ones running it.

Owens let out a quiet grunt as he got up to his feet. It was well past eleven and he never was one to miss a meal. After all, he needed his meal to think. He may lack sleep but he never misses a meal. It's a routine he stuck himself to. Tucking the papers back into the envelope, he put this into his drawer and left the office to head to the room.

- - -

Chase didn't think that. Apparently, neither did his teammates. After Odin had said those wise words, he and the others started to move like a team and it made him grin in amusement when they had finished in what seemed to be less than the three minutes. Everyone cheered and he laughed as he felt the pat on his back. Looking over to Odin, he gave him a two thumbs-up as they moved to form a platoon in front of Odin without his orders.

They all saluted firmly and said in unison: "We've finished, sir! The team requests to eat lunch sir!"

"Well get a move on! Do I need to give you written permission? Your ten minutes are down to 7 already! Move move move! If you're not in the gun range in seven minutes I WILL send the lot of you to KP and Latrine duty for the next month! Old man Tyler will love the help as will our Chef cook Trant!" Odin said smirking as the older recruits immediately ran to the mess hall to grab something to eat. They knew full well that Odin didn't kid about the old 19th century military punishments and none of them enjoyed the thought of pealing potatoes for the ever grumpy military cook or cleaning out toilets with the crazy old janitor who had stories of military toilets none of them cared to hear.

Odin watched them go and munched on the sandwich he'd brought earlier. After quickly finishing it he headed to the gun range and checked the weapons they were going to work with. he made sure they were all nice and disassembled before picking up his own from the table and assembling it. He put on the head phones and began to shoot at the targets which automatically changed once it was considered disabled or if the recruits shot it up so bad a new one was needed. Above the target in a bulletproof case a screen showed how many hits he made and a point total that showed where he'd hit. He stopped when the first of the students came in. His score seemed to be average and none of the shots were head or heart shots. He took off the headphones as the score was changed and turned as the last few recruits dragged themselves in just seconds short of being late.

"Looks like you've all made it just on time. Now pay attention. This is the gunrange. You'll go to the booth that has your name flashing on the screen all the way in the back over the target. You'll find a gun there and headphones! You'll assemble the gun and wait for me to aprove! Failure to report will result in my Kicking your sorry ass out of here so hard you won't remember what hit you when you wake in the hospital. WHEN I approve you put on the headphones! Failure to do so results in deafness as well as expulsion! AFTER you put the headphones on you take the gun and aim at the targets! The targets and nothing else or your ass will be mine in the worst way possible! You'll fire as per how you were taught! AT THE TARGETS! Now if I SQUEEZE your shoulder you will stop firing immediately! UNDERSTOOD?!" Odin said squeezing Chase's shoulder in demonstration he glared around at the men letting them know they'd be very much in trouble if they dared to aim at anything not a target or failed to await permission to shoot.

================================================== =======

"Uh oh! Uh oh! Big brother has mail! Big brother has mail! Important mail!" a child like voice cried out in the otherwise silent basement of the military base. Max looked up as a tiny little girl skipped over to him holding up a small laptop with both hands. Only the wire running from the laptop to the child's head and disappearing her hair that was in two pig tails on either side of the head proved her to be one of Max's many toys and devices he'd built. It was one of many of his inventions that had been built out of pure loneliness. He smiled.
Thanks Mary. Go on and play with Tora now." he said disconnecting the laptop and watching as the child skipped off to the small area that wasn't littered with bits and odds and whatnots. He then quickly read the mail and immediately typed a code into his laptop that opened a link to Owen's cellphone. Max knew he carried it with him always a precaution they agreed on. He waited until the man picked up.
"It's me. I just got word from our outside man. The old bastard is back. I've no doubt he's not on base to laugh about the old days. Odin will be in trouble if that man meets with him as I'm sure he will. Also I don't think he'll be happy to see you either. Be careful, it wouldn't do for our esteemed leader to die before he can lead us." he said. Max was the only one who knew what that old man had truly done to Odin, but he also promised never to tell unless Odin let him. His voice at the end of the conversation betrayed though that he was worried about Owens as well despite trying to hide it behind his usual joking attitude. He quickly hung up after his warning and handed the laptop back to the robot girl Mary.
"Don't worry big brother. Bigger brother and your friend are good boys. they'll be careful." Mary said patting Max's head. Max laughed at this and nodded before heading back to work.

Everyone answered with a, "Yes, Sir!" before they all scampered away to get their food. Chase, too, was one of them and he was actually laughing while he disappeared into the building doors. It was pretty fun having to rush the food down into his stomach but he'd managed. Everyone wasn't serious as he'd thought they'd be. Even the older recruits were joking around. Apparently, they were used to having just a few minutes before lunch was over.

A few went on ahead to the gun range. Chase was one of the many who dragged themselves into the place just seconds short of being late. Not that he'd mind being late just for the experience. He'd heard stories about the old man Tyler and the chef cook Trant and he honestly wanted to see what kind of people they were even if he was getting bad feedbacks from the other recruits.

Everyone, including Chase, listened intently at Odin as he spoke and Chase had to hold himself from having his lips form into a smile of amusement. This was supposed to be something serious, not a joke time of the sorts. The squeeze on his shoulder, though, caught him by surprise and he visibly flinched causing a few of the seniors to snort and at the same time, say, "Yes sir!" simultaneously. Chase reached up to lightly massage his shoulder and he'd moved to where his table was to start assembling the guns while the man behind him talked to him. He only listened, mostly, while he was swift to assemble it and he waited for Odin to check on his gun so he could start shooting the targets. He missed holding a gun. Usually, he'd go out with his uncle to shoot at a gun range back when he was still a kid.

These days, everyone's just too... busy.

- - -

Owens raised a brow at his cellphone ringing and he looked about for a moment before he answered the call. He was currently seated on his lunch table and was silently eating his sandwich while he listened to the man in the other line speak. Of course, he knew it was Max. He wouldn't be this silent if it weren't him. "All right," was the reply he'd given to the other as he'd heard the other line cut him off and he'd returned his phone back into his pocket.

If that was the case, this was really bad news.

The man pulled his hat down a bit and fixed it right after he'd drank his bottle of water. Throwing his trash away, he checked the time and pursed his lips a little. The gun range. Hopefully, that old bastard Max was talking about hadn't reached there yet. That, or he could welcome him in his office. After all, it isn't like he didn't know how to protect himself and guns weren't allowed in the building.

Unless the old bastard gets smart and takes a blade out from under his skin, he thought, That'd be another story.

Odin tensed. Every hair on his body stood on end as he heard the familiar sound of the old man's walking cane between the guns going off. Quickly he made the whole class stop.
"Keep going until you're all done then report to afternoon classes. Chase you're in charge." he said curtly his voice holding an edge that dared the whole group to disobey his orders. Odin made his way to the door just as it opened. He hissed softly. Too late. He had to distract the old guy. Keep the trainees safe that was his main priority now.
"Hello...pup." the old man hissed. Despite the walking cane and his old and fragile appearance the guy oozed an air of danger....and insanity too and all of it it seemed was aimed at Odin.

Waves of whispers went on among the recruits. The eldest one recalling having heard the rumors that their captain had once been forced to work for some old guy who then betrayed the military and almost killed the man who at the time was just a child. Odin paid the whispers no head. His mind already calculating thinking. He suddenly sprang forward and forced both himself and the old man out of the gun range and away from the recruits.

The struggle was short. Odin knew it'd end this way. The old man knew all his weaknesses and easily knocked Odin to the ground.
"Now that's not very NICE!" the old man hissed before poking his cane into Odin's Right leg. Odin grunted in pain trying not to scream as the cane sent a jolt of electricity through the limb. It sparked then smoked. Odin glared up at the man who smirked darkly.
Now then. No more running pup." the old man hissed.

Odin glared up. He saw something moving from the corner of his eyes, but ignored it for now. He brought himself up and gripped the cane in his left hand. Then a sharp object embedded itself in his left upper arm. The arm gave off a similar spark and smoke as his leg and fell away from the cane limply.
"You mock me you brat. I know you! I made you!" the old man cried. Odin desperately tried to find some way out. While the injured arm and leg hadn't caused any real damage it was a pain to know he was a sitting duck now. He'd dropped his gun somewhere in the struggle.

Odin looked at his recruits at the door and recalled what he was doing. If he could buy some time then there would be a chance one of them could sneak off to find Owens and help if Max hadn't already.
"Fine you have me unarmed. Now what? You going to kill me old man? Or are you going to drag me back to that hell hole?" he said suddenly calm his eyes still on the recruits more specifically on Chase. eyes that betrayed a deep fear.
"You'll pay for your betrayal pup." the old man hissed. Odin closed his eyes not sure what to expect next.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++

"Holy hell in a hand-basket!" Max cried having hacked the security footage to see what was happening. While the base personnel was running circles trying to figure out how the old man got in Odin was about to be gutted by his old master. He checked for Owens and mentally urged the man to hurry.

Chase was surprised when he'd heard what Odin had suddenly said. Him? In charge? Why?! was the very first thought that crossed his mind before he'd stopped to turn and follow his superior with his gaze. Apparently, everyone had stopped when they'd seen who it was at the door. The whispers were enough proof of that.

The eyes of almost all the recruits widened when they'd seen Odin jump at the old man. It had Chase hold the gun in one hand as he put it down beside him. He only snapped out of his trance when the recruits had all moved to the door to see what was happening. It took a while for Chase to get out of the said crowd and look in horror to see Odin down on the ground looking rather... helpless. It had Chase's defenses raise up and just as he was about to yell for the old man to stop, Owens was there to grab the cane and easily break it with the help of his leg.

"You know," the taller male with an air of authority started as he tossed the broken cane aside, "Hurting my men isn't something you can do." Grabbing the other's shirt, he glared at him icily. "You're also not allowed to come in my barracks without my permission." Another male - an older soldier - came over to them and took the old man's wrists to put them behind his back. He held him while Owens took off his rubber gloves.

"Everyone! Back to the barracks!" Chase barked out. His fellow recruits were surprised at him having a sudden serious tone in his voice and though they hesitated, they left for the barracks.

Only when they were gone did Chase quickly run to Odin's side and he held him up. "Sir, are you all right?" he asked, his features turning to worry. Owens turned to look at them and waited for Odin's reply while the said older soldier bound the old man's wrists with a hand cuff.

Hidden in his basement Max sunk to the ground letting out a hissed breath in relief.
"Cut it damn close why don't cha...Jesus..." he muttered before hurriedly grabbing his tool box and prepping his work table. Odin would be down here soon he knew.

__________________________________________________ _________________

Odin could only watch as Owens stepped in and broke the taser cane. He couldn't do anything but watch as the soldier Owens brought cuffed the old man and Chase came to his side. As Chase tried to help him up Odin saw the old man who was screaming a wide variety of obscenities to Owens suddenly shove off the guard and lash his leg out toward Chase and him. Odin grunted as he used his shoulder to push Chase away before throwing his weight onto his left side and swinging his now seemingly limp right leg at the old man's. The old man's shoe connected with his leg and the knife hidden in the shoe's sole ripped the skin right off it. Odin made no noise as he wrestled himself back into his sitting position and watched the soldier grab the old man who's leg was now likely broken from Odin's move. Odin wasn't in the least bit sad to see the old man dragged off. He turned to Chase again.
"I will be...Help me out for a bit will you?" he said quietly. He gave Owens a silent signal that meant he was about to take a leap of faith and for Owens to deal with the old guy. One of his three bigger secrets was out now. His left arm was still smoking from being electrocuted and his right lower leg had bits and pieces of metal, wire and gears sticking out at odd angles. Not that he ever made a big secret out of it, but it was easier if his recruits and fellow captains didn't know. They'd only see it as a weakness.
"To the base. Need to go to the basement there." Odin said in that same quiet voice as he waited for Chase to help him limp his stupid ass back to base while mentally beating himself over the head for not just up and shooting the old man already.

Owens, of course, always did come the last minute. He loved action, after all, even though there were dire consequences like what had happened to Odin. The male didn't apologize, though. There isn't anything he should really apologize for. When he knew that Odin was in good hands, he nodded towards Chase's way before he'd followed the soldier who'd dragged the old man off. He had to be there to throw this man behind bars.

Owens' words were power.

Chase nodded at the other's question and he took the other's right arm since the other's left arm didn't look so good. "Yes sir," was Chase's curt reply as he'd put the other's arm around his shoulders. Letting the other lean onto him, he held the other's arm in place while his other hand went around his superior's waist. The male managed to bring him into the building and down the basement. That, and he had to be slow for the other to catch up.

When they had arrived at what seemed to be a door, Chase blinked. It looked like a dead end unless something or someone, for that matter, was behind the said door. "Sir... here, is it?" he asked as he'd looked over at Odin and raised his brows a bit. The close distance with his superior didn't bother him at all. In fact, he wasn't at all thinking as he asked this question - rather stupid, too, if one thought about it again.

"It's here alright. I need to tell you though that what lies behind this door is known only by 2 other people so far. I'll trust you on your word that you will not speak with anyone but myself and the commander of what you're about to see. We're placing on you a degree of trust that is likely to get us killed if you should ever betray us. I will however make sure if it kills us that you'll not live to brag about it." Odin said shifting enough to prop himself up against the wall beside the closed door. He reached around with his right hand and typed in the 26 digit code and did so quite fast. The door slid open with a hiss and revealed a sort of auto body shop combined with a medical lab and a junkyard.

Max watched from the shadows not sure what Odin was thinking as he used the wall to hold himself up and hop around the corner where a wheelchair stood waiting.
"He's good people." Odin said quietly. Max sighed and shook his head.
"You new kid! Help him onto the table." he called out as he got up. His person still hidden by the shadows, but his outline showing clearly that he was not a very big person sooner a teenager in length.

Odin grunted as he noticed the leg had gotten a number done on it well. He tore off his pant leg and with a hiss disconnected the busted up leg from the remains of his upper leg. He then tossed it to the shaded figure who caught it and let out some displeased noises.
"That bastard really did a number on ya didn't he?" Max sighed.
"C'mon kid stop staring an help him get his stubborn ass on the table. You can ogle it later." Max called out teasingly as he finally stepped into the light and revealed a mischievous face with a mop of blond hair and a single green eye. His petit body was clad in an overall tied around the waist showing off a toned chest covered in tiny scars of some or another thing.
"T' name's Max. I'm spose ta be dead so if ya dun mind keep the lip zipped on me. Now then lets get th' idiot on th' table so I c'n patch 'm up." the boy called in a cheery street accented voice.

Chase listened to Odin and he oddly felt his heart rate pick up. Only... two other knew about this place? Why? As he asked these questions to himself, he could only nod to the other's words about not telling about this place to anyone else and noted that the other's threat wasn't much of a threat at all. If it'll kill them all to have someone not know about the secret then, why should he bother blabbering about it? That, and he found it a waste of time.

At least, Woodward didn't think it'd be important to have to remember this place even existed at all. He watched the other dial something into the small machine by the door and he blinked again at the swiftness of it. Quick, was all he'd managed to think as he'd moved his gaze to the door opening with a hiss. Was that supposed to be normal?

The new recruit looked at the sides of the door frame and then blinked when he'd heard someone speak. At least, he knew he wasn't the only one hearing it since Odin seemed to busy himself with disconnecting his leg. Whoa. That's cool, he thought before he'd blinked at the stranger finally stepping out into the light. He was short, that was for sure. Shorter than him and couldn't be older than him or so it seemed to him.

"Yes sir," he said before he'd brought Odin to the said table in what seemed to be a medical lab and nodded towards Odin's way. He turned to look back at Max and brought up his hand to scratch at the side of his head. "And, pleasure, sir. I'm Chase. Chase Woodward."

"I know who y' are. Also know what yer really joinin' t' militia fer." Max said grinning as he worked on next disconnecting Odin's arm. The whole limb came off from the shoulder down. Odin remained laying where he was.
"Mary why don't you show our guest around? I doubt he'll find interest in watching me poke at artificial limbs and diving through trash to find replacement bits and odds." Max said as he huddled down by the heaping pile of bits and odds and stared at it a long time before diving into it and bringing out a very tiny little gear.
"Hai max nii-san!" the little robot girl said as she skipped over to Chase.
"Come on come on! Let's play!" she said cheerfully.

Once they were out of sight Max turned to Odin.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean he could still decide to turn tails and screw it up." he said seriously.
"I'm positive. He's not questioned anything so far and I know that he's doing research on the structures of the military and its leaders. We need his knowledge of the inner circle of council members that his father runs with. It's key to our operation. Tonight I will tell him...we'll know come tomorrow I hope." Odin said quietly.
"Here eat you're still shocky from the attack. You better be right...I'd hate to have to make him disappear if you aren't." Max said before turning to his work again.

"You're a human!" Mary said cheerfully as she stared at Chase she then was distracted by a clearly robotic tiger that came running at them.
"Tora!" she laughed.

Chase was taken aback at Max's words. He... knows why he joined the military for? Looking all the more embarrassed, he slid his hand down to his neck and smiled a little sheepishly. If that's the case, then perhaps Owens and Odin know what he's up to, too.

Blinking for a moment when he'd mentioned the name 'Mary', he couldn't help but look about and raise his brows when he'd seen the little girl. She is a little girl, right? Letting out a quite laugh, he nodded. "I am," he told her with a smile before he'd blinked again at her calling out a name. Strange, he'd thought, But interesting. Intriguing, even. Smiling at the little girl and the robotic tiger, he crouched down and looked over at Mary.

"Is Mary not human like big brother?" he asked as he'd rested his elbows on his knees and silently watched her with amusement.

Honestly, he wouldn't mind watching Max tinker with Odin's artificial limbs. That, and he was pretty curious as to how those limbs of his work. Max seemed to be really good at mechanical stuffs, too, he'd noticed. It really looked fun to learn it but he held himself back. He wouldn't want to make a bad first impression, after all.

Mary shook her head.
"Big brother made me. Just like he made tora. Ne Nii-san? Odin nii-san's friend wants to play with you instead!" the robot girl called. Something on her person beeped and she blinked.
"Ro-denki! Ro-denki! Inin desu!" she said running over to where Max was and climbing on the desk behind the boy where she pulled a cord from her hair and plugged it in the wall.
"Nemutai desu." she said yawning cutely and closing her eyes as she sat against the wall.

"She's a robot. Was a pain to build her. Her brain alone took me five years. Mother boards micro processors audio plates and video cards all adjusted to a humanoid blueprint. Biggest challenge was how to fix up the hydraulic fluid systems. Making a biokinetic arm is a challenge of it's own right, but building an entire person is even harder. Eventually I realized that a 3 year old child was as big as I could go with it without getting complications. You can check if you want she's even got a real heartbeat. Now that was a bitch to figure out. Like the human body the brain is responsible for all the interfaces and motions and even thought, but her heart is the central power processor. Like a real heart it supplies power to her whole body. Then there was of course the programming to be done. Programing in motion, vision, sound in and out put and information processing and that's just to allow her arms and legs to move and allow her to hear, speak and see. Now making a program so she could actually think for herself that was challenging, but luckily nothing Odin couldn't do." Max said talking while working on the arm and fixing the damage.
"Hmpf, you only figured out how to make her because I let you poke that my arm..." Odin muttered. Once Max got started on techno babble as Owens had called it when Max first explained how he fixed up Odin there was no end to it and most normal people didn't even get half of what came out of his mind on the best of days.
"Yes the only thing the old bastard was good for really. At any rate be glad I did or I'd of never figured out how ta save yer carrier here n you'd be permanently stuck in that chair an arm an a leg short. On 3." Max said before counting to three and reconnecting the arm. Odin took in a sharp breath and his face scrunched up in discomfort, but he didn't let out a peep.
"You c'n scream y'know? Ain't gonna think less of ya this hurts like a bitch n the best of em curse out everyone an their grandma when they get connected. Hey err...Woodward c'mere. Hold these clamps like so." Max muttered setting to work on the leg and calling Chase over.

Just like he made... tora? Chase thought as he blinked and he raised his brows at what she said. He could only guess the language but he couldn't really understand it. Reaching out to pet the robotic tiger, he slowly got up to his feet and watched the little girl yawn and then sit against the wall. Of course, he didn't miss the cord that was plugged into the wall.

When Max had went to sputter out those words, he found himself frowning as he tried to drink in the information. Sadly, he didn't understand the jargon the male spoke and simply let out a thoughtful hum and uttered a short, "I see," just show the other that he was listening. Kind of. At least, not with the robotic tiger jumping up and down at his side. Chase decided to play with the robotic tiger but he'd somehow ended up by the medical table where Max was fixing Odin up. He'd even seen Odin's face scrunch up in discomfort when Max had re-connected Odin's arm.

In all honesty, this was the very first time he'd come in contact with one who is good at machines and another who lived with artificial limbs. Call him a rich kid but his father never made him come in contact with anyone not 'real' so to speak.

"Yes sir," he started as he came over and held the clamps. He wasn't sure how to hold 'em but he did so with what he thought was right. "Like this, sir?" he asked, blinking, and turning to look over at Max.

"Yeah like that. hang on now." Max said before walking straight for a certain area of the heaps of trash and digging around it for a second. He then grinned as he found what he needed right where he'd digged.

"No one knows how, but he always knows where to find anything no matter how big a heap of trash he's digging through." Odin said shaking his head.

"That's why I call it an organized mess." Max said coming back over to where Chase was holding the clamps still. He quickly placed the pieces in and screwed them in place before taking the clamps from Chase.
"Thanks for the help." he said distractedly as he started to unclasp the parts he'd clamped and reconnected them. He then pulled up a small pocket computer and connected it to the leg. The skin flickered it seemed and then disappeared.
"Wus afraid o that...need to do a complete reboot of the nano skin chip n recalibrate the vertical motion receptors...that'll take hours. Here." Max said shaking his head before tossing two things at Odin.

"Thanks. Take your time. I can postpone tomorrow's activities a few hours due to technical difficulties. It won't change our schedule much." Odin said calmly. He caught both thins. The first was a small chip and the second a cylinder of about 7 centimeters long. Odin pressed a button on it and it opened with a pop to stretch a good length and let out a hand rest.
"You're getting more creative Maxie. If you weren't supposed to be dead you'd make a lot of people a lot happier. Come on Chase. Let's go back to barracks and remember this all never happened. Did I make myself clear?" Odin said before walking out. With the crutch he wasn't as fast as before, but he was by no means slowed down by it. He knew he'd just called the other boy by his name for the first time, but decided not to comment on it. He'd be explaining just about his entire life when they got back to the barracks.

Chase continued to hold the clamps as he was told to before he'd blinked at the other moving to what looked like heaps of trash. He /did/ notice that the other had it around the place and he tilted his head a bit. It looked messy but at the same time... neat, as strange as that sounded. "Sounds like he's got it under control at least," he said with a small grin as he watched Max screw the pieces he'd gotten in.

It was strange watching Max in action as he fixed up Odin's limbs. He'd always thought Odin was "complete" in one sense or two but he supposed, that wouldn't explain the bomb rumor going on around the recruits. When Max spoke again about some skin chip and receptors, he took that as a sign to let go and step back to have Max continue what he was doing.

Once the two were done - at least, he could see Odin already sitting up, he had moved to stand by Odin's side only to blink in surprise at the crutch that appeared from what looked like a small cylinder. Strange but cool. Nodding firmly at Odin's question, which he knew very well was directed at him, his eyes had widened just a tad upon realizing that the other had just called his name. Did he just hear him right? He found himself smiling slightly in amusement as he moved out to the door with him.

Chase wasn't going to press the other about him calling him by his first name. It isn't like it's important after all. But, it did feel pretty good.

Almost... special, he supposed?

Odin tried to organize his thoughts as they made their way back to barracks and up the 16 flights of stairs to the eighth floor. He was a little more troubled getting up the stairs, but he supposed it would at least allow Chase to keep up with him rather then being three flights behind like last time.

He prayed that Owens would make sure the old man would never come back. Odin sighed softly when they reached the room. This had been the first time since that man had taken him in that he outright defied or attacked the man. How the old bastard had gotten out of wherever they stashed him Odin didn't know, but he did know he was glad Owens showed up when he did.

Odin limped over to his side of the room and sat down on the bed. He threw off his shirt and pants and searched for his loose sweats a moment. He put those on and got himself in a relatively comfortable position with his back against the wall, but so he could look at Chase.

"You'll probably have a lot of questions right now. I hope I'll be able to answer most with what I'm about to tell you. again it must stay between you and I. It'd be troublesome for certain people if certain information was known. First though I'd like a question answered of my own. What do you know about the rebellion?" Odin asked calmly as he closely watched Chase.

Chase was ready to help Odin climb up the stairs should he need his help but when he saw how the other seemed to be holding his pride up first, he decided not to offer it out aloud. The new recruit only followed his superior like a lost little lamb, silent with his hands at his sides as he climbed up the 16 flights of stairs. Of course, he trailed behind and stopped when Odin did.

By the time they reached their room and the other had decidedly stripped, the male respectfully turned his gaze elsewhere until he'd heard Odin's bed creak. Only then did he look back at the other and his eyes unconsciously moved to Odin's arm - the one that had been fixed not very long ago. It didn't look at all... broken. Seating himself on his bed, he silently listened to Odin speak and swallowed tightly upon hearing the question. This was it.

This was, he supposed, his breaking point with him joining the military career.

"All I know about the rebellion is that there is a coup and only selective people from the military are recruited for this group. Ones that the leaders can trust. After all, money can change people's perspective and belief." He fisted his hands a little on his lap and gave Odin a determined look. "I intend to join the group to stop my father of his deeds. He's done enough to the citizens."

As if that wasn't enough, he added, "I don't like my father's way of dealing with things, Sir. At all."

Odin listened to the boy and watched him closely. Once Chase finished he nodded calmly.
"Good that will make things a lot less troublesome on my end. I'll start from the beginning I guess won't make sense otherwise. I was orphaned at age 3. That old man earlier...he found me on the streets about 3 years later. He told me about how the government and the military were responsible for all the deaths that'd occurred in my home region. He had me train day and night for 5 years long and came up with new treatments and other things. I can't remember how I lost my arm really...just that I did and the old man replaced it by an at the time prototype bionic limb. I've had injections for anything and everything and half of them I don't even know what they did, but they were all to make me a better human or so the old man said. I was just a kid I didn't know any better. The man just had to fill my head with whatever he wanted me to believe... I was 6 years old when I first met him, I would've believed him if he told me he was the tooth-fairy." Odin let out a bitter laughter at this before continuing.
"As I got older he had me go through more training, taught me how to hack computers without being caught, how to open doors without leaving evidence behind, how to blend in anywhere. I was 9 when he first sent me out on a test mission. I did as told because he promised me that if I did I'd be able to put an end to the fighting that was happening everywhere...put an end to it so no other kids would have to become orphans like me. I went on more of those test missions...being only nine it never occurred to me that I really killed those people...not until that one guy questioned me...I'd believed that it was just a test, that it was fake blood and that after the test they'd get up and go home...I was so shocked that I got physically ill for weeks after... the old man wasn't happy...he punished me severely...put me in a room...dark, without sound, nothing around me...sensitization I think they call it...it's a punishment designed to instill a fear of nothing...and it works...the first few hours you think you can handle it...but after...the silence and pitch-black nothingness of the room gets to you..." Odin stopped a moment. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before continuing.
"When the old man let me out he got me on an even more intense training schedule...trained out every part of me that felt remorse or pity for those that were supposed to be my enemies...or my allies that died during missions...to a point where success of the mission was the only thing I could think of. No matter what it cost. He then decided I was ready for the big glorious mission and enrolled me in the military. Owens held my position at the time. He was a great captain, but I was to occupied with the glorious mission..." Odin smiled a moment at the mention of Owens. The man had been the first person who cared if he lived or died even when he himself had been trained to the point of not caring for any lives anymore least of all his own.
"I was 12 when I became a trainee in the military...The old man had forged the papers so they said I was 16, my childish looks were blamed on Asian parentage and a genetic condition that kept me smaller then my age group. No one questioned it, but somehow Owens seemed to know even if he couldn't prove it. I did my best to prove my worth to the military board of directors so I'd gain the rank of private and the rights to go where I needed to be, but Owens kept me back. Whether he knew the truth at the time or if it was because he felt I wasn't ready I didn't know at the time. It annoyed me a lot then...things like teamwork and other such terms and the value of a human life and a teammate were things I was taught were only for those who were too weak to fight on their own, what Owens was teaching us trainees at the time...I couldn't understand. They seemed to me to be pointless...but as I was in the military training program longer I began to see that these things led to some kind of connection between the other trainees...I began to long for that same connection...I'd never had anyone who watched my back, no friends, no family to care about me...I didn't know the first thing about how to make a friend so I did the only thing I did know how to do...I studied...of course the others spoke of be behind my back when they thought I couldn't hear them...and at some point one of them had said that the old man probably trained the humanity out of me. I didn't know what he meant, but somehow it seemed to hurt. I think looking up that word the meaning of what he said is what changed things." Odin sighed softly. He still remembered that time. Realizing they were right and trying to find out what it meant and why it left him so disturbed had not been easy.
"I remember feeling incredibly lost and eventually I went to Owens. He'd always been the person I could go to if I didn't understand something. I felt so much better once I understood things more clearly. I realized that in all my training for the glorious goal I'd forgotten why I was doing it all. I would've blown the whole place up if I was told to and done exactly the thing I wanted to stop from happening. From then on I began to train in earnest with the other trainees. I began to have fun and the tasks weren't so tedious anymore. My fellow trainees were no longer just people who weren't as good as me. They were slowly becoming people I could rely on. Then came the great day. I finally got the signal to start my mission...I dreaded the next day. My mission was clear. I had to replace the dummy bomb with a real one that'd go off before anyone got to it and the confusion would allow me to hack the systems and take control quickly without casualties...but someone had found out and the old man was caught...but he..." Odin bit his lip. Now came the hardest part of his tale.
"He betrayed me...I'd just placed the bomb when he set it to go off much sooner. He hacked the system of the base control room I was in and told me that I'd failed him...He used me as his scapegoat...I didn't realize he'd remotely changed the timer settings of the bomb...not until it went off...I woke briefly in a hospital room...voices around me told me I was being operated on...I didn't fully wake until nearly a month later...The nurse and doctor told me I got lucky...I was never told the full extend of my injuries, but I was in a wheelchair for a year and three months after. I'd lost my leg and well...you've seen the damage on my back already...I was under investigation and risked a military trial for betrayal and several other charges...I was in a really tough position...and to top it off I was the only one who knew Max was alive...I think you'll have heard of Howard Wellsh a famous military mechanic who was executed for treason or at least supposed treason...he never betrayed anyone. Max was his adopted son that supposedly died during the raid that got Howard captured. Anyways...I knew if no one knew Max wouldn't last long where he was...I told Owens who promised that he'd get Max to safety. After that he brought me to Max who swore he could fix me up so I'd be able to keep my job...I didn't think I'd be keeping it though...not until during the trial Owens stood up and brought tons of evidence that proved that the old man had used me and then tossed me out like so much garbage...I was shocked at the time...I didn't understand why Owens was doing all that for someone who'd betrayed his trust...I didn't learn until later that Owens had certain ties that were interested in a person like me. When I learned of this and did my research I began to see the connections I'd always ignored in lieu of the 'glorious mission'. I worked hard to get back on my feet...literally and after that worked harder for the new mission. The one that really matters...the mission that's not about killing anyone who's in the way, but about succeeding with the least amount of casualties. I climbed up in ranks to the position of captain once Owens became commander. Of the men you train with now only the older ones know a bit about this. Mostly just the rumors that spread surrounding my carrier. Owens managed to change certain aspects so it looked like I'd done a heroic thing by speeding ahead of my team mates to disable the bomb fast rather then being the one who planted the real bomb there. Of course questions came about how I'd know and they were told that the old man had used an impressionable 3 year old child and trained it to become a little terrorist, but he failed and his little terrorist turned on him. It didn't matter according to Owens which version was told, they'd make their own anyways. Especially when it became known that I'm actually four years younger then my papers say. Yes that makes me a year older then you instead of five years older." Odin said. He sighed deeply having told a lot just now and wondering what Chase's reactions were going to be. He again watched closely hoping to make something up out of the other boy's body language.

Chase went through a series of emotions but one appeared all the time whether he liked it or not: pity and overwhelmed. He felt pity for Odin who had gone through all of those things he wouldn't imagine was possible for anyone. After all, he'd been sheltered unlike the other and he grew up with his parents' care. Neither of them made time for him but he didn't mind. In fact, he enjoyed having to grow up with his butler whom he'd thought of as his second father. It may be strange to some people and perhaps, a little perverted to think as such, but he didn't really care.

Happiness was the key and that's all that mattered.

Overwhelmed was another emotion he'd found himself wrecking in. The information about Odin's past and his life story was simply too much to take. He had to hold the side of his head as he bent down and hand his elbows resting on his knees. Even when Odin had finished talking, Chase didn't raise his head to meet the other's gaze. All he got then was that that old man had his trust and betrayed that trust, which led to the consequences Odin had to experience. Chase wasn't sure it was karma and he didn't bother thinking about it. It wasn't his place to.

Though he may find it easy to memorize certain things, there was a limitation to his understanding. Chase was silent as he brought up his other hand to rest on the side of his neck. When he was sure he could talk, he did though he may have, well, sounded like a mess. "S-Sorry," the boy stuttered as he let his eyes shut tight and frowned, "It's a little too much to take."

Chase looked up to meet Odin's gaze and he gave his superior a rather sheepish smile. There was one thing bothering him, too, as he let go of his head and slowly sat up straighter. "Though, why exactly did you tell me all this, Sir?" The black-haired male chewed on his bottom lip a bit out of habit when he was anxious and nervous all at the same time. To have to tell someone else their past, surely Odin trusts him? He rephrased that question and asked:

"And, is it really all right to tell me such... valuable information?"

Odin could see the other was overwhelmed. He supposed it was a lot to take in for the other. He smiled knowingly when the boy said so.
"Understandable, it's a lot of information after all." he said calmly. He smirked at Chase's next question.
"I figured you were a smart boy, surely you can figure it out...if you're serious about taking part in that rebellion that is." Odin said calmly.

When the boy rephrased the question he smiled again.
"If it weren't you wouldn't have known a thing still at this moment. Now then forgetting the heaping amount of information I just told you for a moment...think closely. Why would I tell you I once nearly pulled a coup d' etat on the military?" he said.

At that moment Max eased out of the pitch-black corner on the other end of the room without a sound.
"Their security's worth jack shit...any idiot could take this place over if we wusn't here...but it does make my work easier ta do." Max muttered sourly. He waited for Odin to lie down and connected the now fixed leg. Odin barely made a sound, but bit down hard on his wrist to keep from screaming. Like with the arm he broke a light sweat from the exertion of trying to not make a noise and soft muffled whimpers left him for all his trying.
"Th' only thing we can't do nuthin bout. Ya jus can't put em on without s'm pain. It's them nerve ends ya see? They re-connect to the workings of the bionic limb n that ain't painless. Can't use anesthetics cuz ya need ta be sure they connect correctly n function. Well my work's done again. Y'all know where ta find me ifn ya need me." Max said cheerfully before slipping back into the pitch black shadows he'd come from.

"You'll get used to that. Him popping up out of nowhere. When we first met I was sure he was some kind of demon or something. Then I was about 12 or so. Oh well. So genius figure it out yet?" Odin said sitting up and testing his leg a moment. He then sat back down and booted up the small laptop that he had with him no matter where he was. He inserted the chip Max had given him earlier and grinned.
"The big guy will love this. Hehe looks like Max will get those toys he wanted after all." he murmured before shutting the computer down and pocketing the chip. He'd pass it to Owens during his morning report the next day.